Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
This is a historically significant “Orotone” photograph of famed federal jurist and baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Also known as a “Goldtone” photograph; these special images were developed on glass and often gold-leafed by hand using 23 karat gold leaf; creating images that were highly regarded as pieces of art during the early twentieth century. No doubt this impressive photograph of Landis was developed specifically for him and by its’ nature is framed in its’ original specialized frame with a sturdy, chromed metal easel back. As a judge Landis presided over hearings regarding the Federal League in 1915. After the 1919 World Series scandal, dubbed “The Black Sox Scandal,” when eight members of the Chicago White Sox team were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series between the Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, baseball owners named Landis as the first Commissioner of baseball. Serving in this capacity Landis made his most famous decision; to permanently banish the eight Chicago White Sox players implicated in throwing the 1919 World Series, most notably “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Few Orotone photographs of baseball subjects are known to exist and none picturing any individual who had such an historic influence on the game as did Hall of Famer Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Measures 15x12.